How to NOT Hire Great People

Every once in a while, I apply for jobs just to see what candidates have to go through in order to get a position. I believe it is important as an interviewer to understand the process from the candidates’ perspective. This gives you a greater insight and allows you to more effectively tailor your process. This is further important because the application process is a direct reflection of the company who is hiring. While every interview process is different, if you want to NOT hire good people, here are some things NOT to do:

1. Make the application process so hard that good candidates would rather have a root canal. One company I applied for posted an ad with an incorrect link. I was really curious about the position so I went to the company website and located the right link. I discovered that I had to write an essay of my qualifications and how they fit into the job description. I also had to send a resume, cover letter, references, and a salary history. The link to send the materials in was also incorrect so I moved on to the next one. While gathering good information on your candidates is important, asking for too much will discourage the applicant and give you more paperwork to review. A well crafted resume and cover letter should tell you all that you need to know to determine if you should move to the next step in the interview process.

2. Be disrespectful of the candidates’ time. One company asked to schedule an interview with me. They asked me to be 20 minutes early. The day before the interview, I received frantic email asking me to actually arrive another 40 minutes earlier than that. I was an hour early as requested. They started the interview at the original time.

3. Leave people hanging. I interviewed with another company that told me they would give me an answer within three days. Two weeks went by without any communication. I sent a follow up email re-iterating my interest in the position, and I still haven’t heard from them. If you do not intend to hire the candidate, at least send them an email thanking them for applying and let them know you filled the position.

4. Be confusing. One company asked me to interview and I ended up watching a 45 minute sales presentation. This is not an interview.

5. Be vague. A company that doesn’t put their name on the job ad will get people looking for a job. A company that stands behind their ad with their name on it will get people looking for the next perfect position.

Everyone wants to hire that next great employee, who will really bring something to the table and your team. However, if this is actively what you don’t want- follow these steps. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.